Monday, November 30, 2009

A brewing debt crisis in Dubai has raised a specter of gloom on the Philippines, where many households have been relying on petrodollars sent home by a large pool of overseas workers in the Middle East.

MANILA - The peso is expected to face further downward pressure this week as sentiment is likely to remain volatile, while investors continue to assess the possibility of another global systemic crisis arising from the debt problems in Dubai, traders and analysts said.

The 12 Filipino seafarers stranded in Greece since July this year have not been paid their agreed salary, and live on dole-outs and the minimal allowance of food and water given to them by their employer.

(Updated 5:30 p.m.) NAIROBI, Kenya - Somali pirates seized a tanker carrying crude oil from Saudi Arabia to the United States in the increasingly dangers waters off East Africa, an official said Monday, an attack that could pose a huge environmental or security threat to the region.

MANILA - The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will assist the Department of Agriculture (DA) in monitoring the price and supply of sugar amid allegations of manipulation, according to DTI Secretary Peter Favila.

Three witnesses claimed they saw Datu Unsay town mayor Andal Ampatuan, Jr. leading the armed men who flagged down a convoy of vehicles carrying the 57 victims of what is now known as the Maguindanao massacre on November 23.

Armed men reportedly belonging to the camp of Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan, Sr., and Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan, Jr., were already in place to block passing members of the Mangudadatu clan days before the Maguindanao massacre, sworn statements gathered by government investigators showed.

(UPDATE) Joint police and military forces on Monday seized guns and paraphernalia at the home of a lieutenant believed to have been used as storage area of firearms used in the massacre of at least 64 people in Maguindanao last week.

Their name is synonymous to power. Now, according to Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Solicitor General Cynthia Sayadi, the Ampatuans are now exposed to threats from Muslim rebels and their political rivals.

MANILA – Preventive suspension orders against Ampatuans currently holding public office are set to be filed soon, according to Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ronaldo Puno.

"Stress" is catching up on Andal Ampatuan Jr., the prime suspect in the massacre in Maguindanao province that left at least 57 people dead, in his detention cell inside the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) compound in Manila.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is asking the Philippine government not to punish the entire Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) as a result of the massacre that left 57 people dead in Ampatuan, Maguindanao.

By and large critical of Philippine media, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Monday issued her strongest condemnation yet of the massacre of at least 30 journalists in Maguindanao, rallying the nation to join hands so that it would never be under siege again.

Use the full force of the Philippine judicial system and the national security forces to prosecute those responsible in the Maguindanao massacre, said members of the Confederation of Asean Journalists (CAJ) Monday.

Incarcerated former Compostela Mayor Gilbert Wagas yesterday filed his Certificate of Candidacy for the 5th district before the provincial Commission on Elections office through his brother incumbent Compostela Mayor Ritchie Wagas.

MANILA - The powerful Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) was open to giving its blessing to amend the Constitution after the May 2010 polls. With President Arroyo's shadow lurking in the halls of Congress, however, the Church leaders might just change their mind.

Pampanga Auxiliary Bishop Pablo Virgilio David urged the best legal minds in the country to seek the wisdom of the Supreme Court now that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is running as representative of the second district in the province.

A noted constitutionalist and even one of the opposition's top election lawyers on Monday said there was nothing illegal about President Macapagal-Arroyo's running for the House of Representatives in her home district in Pampanga.

Controversial businessman and philanthropist Mark "MJ" Jimenez announced his candidacy for president on Monday and offered himself as an alternative to what he described as "traditional" and "inexperienced" politicians in the coming 2010 elections.

Former police Senior Superintendent Cezar Mancao II filed with the provincial Commission on Elections office his certificate of candidacy for the Congress seat representing the province's first congressional district shortly before noon Monday.

MANILA - The Philippines almost had another champion on Monday but "The Ice Man" of Finland dashed the Filipinos hopes as he defeated Lee Van Corteza in the World Ten Ball Championship finals held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

MANILA - Keeping the Filipinos' hope alive for another hometown victory, Lee Van Corteza proved to have nerves of steel and bucked the odds and the pressure to survive the hot rally of Spaniard David Alcaide on Monday at the WPA World Ten-Ball Championships in Pasay City.

In a sudden turnaround that shocked and saddened allies, former Miss Universe Margarita "Margie" Moran-Floirendo on Monday announced that she was backing out of the gubernatorial race in Davao del Norte.

MANILA - For the first time in Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) history, the public gets to vote for the housemate they want to be evicted. Kuya made this announcement during "PBB Double Up's" 7th nomination night on Sunday.